What is Xigris®?

Xigris® is a medication given as an injection in the vein and is used to treat individuals with sepsis and infections of the blood. Also known as drotrecogin alfa, the medication contains components similar to proteins that occur naturally in the human body. These proteins help to reduce the chances of blood clots and also reduce the inflammation caused by the reaction of the body's immune system.

Individuals given Xigris® are generally seen as high-risk patients. Sepsis is a condition in which the body's immune system overreacts to an infection and begins attacking the organs instead of foreign bodies. This can be a life-threatening condition, and in order for treatment to be successful, it must begin when the individual is still in the early stages. When sepsis begins to set into the body in earnest, inflammation typically constrained to the area of an infection takes over the whole body, and begins to interfere with organ function. An individual with sepsis is usually closely monitored, as death can occur from organ failure.

Xigris® acts as an anti-inflammatory. As severe cases of inflammation also increase the chances of the formation of blood clots, Xigris® has also been shown to lower these risks as well. If clots have already formed in the veins and arteries, an injection of this medication can help break these clots down before they are dislodged and sent into one of the major organs.

Typical administration of the drug is through an intravenous drip, and it can take several days to complete the treatment. Acting as an anticoagulant, one of the side effects of Xigris® is an increase in the chance of severe bleeding and blood loss. This can occur around the injection site, and should be monitored. Those who are already taking another form of anticoagulant or blood thinner, or who have a condition such as hemophilia, might not be able to take this medication because of the increased chance for severe blood loss.

Some of the most common side effects for Xigris® are those that resemble an allergic reaction. The site of the injection can become bruised or irritated, and because the medication is an anticoagulant, the injected area can continue to bleed for some time after injection. Some individuals may develop hives in response to the medication, and an allergic reaction may include swelling and difficulty breathing. More serious side effects include profuse bleeding.